Stats Bar & Grille Restaurant / Sports Bar

South End, Boston –

A sports bar for the trendy set, Stats Bar & Grille offers just what the name says – scores, drinks, and grub – all in an uncluttered setting that puts the focus squarely on the flat-screens that dominate the walls and the bar in the center of the main room.

During dinner hours, laid-back jersey-wearing fans and Southie locals stroll in to watch a game over cheap bottled beers and appetizer specials, which range from standard buffalo wings to dishes with an upscale twist like the tempura artichoke hearts.

By the time the post-show wrap-up is over, however, the place has switched gears and turned into a lively singles scene.

After-work yuppies turn their attention from the TVs to the ladies, shooting winks across the room as the joint swells with flirty conversation, and Top 40 tunes replace the sports commentary. A few steps up, a second level filled with tables offers an escape from the mob of shot-slinging coeds that gathers below on Fridays and Saturdays.

Those looking for a more relaxed experience show up on Sundays, when groups of pals in jeans and hoodies settle in at the wooden high-tops to catch the game or just get a slow buzz on as they check out the passersby through the sunny picture windows facing the street.

A perfect place for the sports lover who is also shopping for someone to love, Stats Bar & Grille is as much about gleaning stats as it is about scoring digits.